Be prepared for any contigency, says Lt Gen Ajai Kumar Singh

“There should not just be preparedness among the soldiers, be it at Siachen or Thar desert, but also among citizens. After all, it is not only soldiers fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war. If everyone contributes their bit then they are our soldiers out of uniform. Imagine we will have a 1.4 billion-strong army – in uniform and out of uniform,” Lt Gen Ajai Kumar Singh added.

“India is emerging as a force to reckon with and when we speak, nations are listening,” he said, while also laying emphasis on public private partnership in nation building.

He was the chief guest at an event organised by Pune Cantonment Board where newly developed facilities– Advanced Cardiac Centre, PM Jan Aushadhi Kendra, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Liquid Medical Oxygen Tank–were inaugurated at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Cantonment General Speciality and Critical Care hospital.

Lt Gen Ajai Kumar Singh also spoke about the relationship of one of the oldest commands that have 11 states and four union territories under its responsibility with Pune. “We want to further strengthen this bond,” he said.

On cantonments, Lt Gen Ajai Kumar Singh observed that apart from being well governed, the boards should go beyond the call of excellence. “Sometimes it is not possible to distinguish where the Cantonment limit begins and ends and we hope Pune Cantonment Board goes beyond its call of excellence and makes it an ideal one,” he said. In his speech, he also appreciated the role played by Pune residents and how impressive they have been in terms of their readiness to help others—financially or by investing time and effort— towards betterment of society.

Earlier Subrat Pal, CEO of PCB, told the press that the cardiac care unit was established on PPP mode and will be managed by Cardiologist Dr Sunil Agarwal and his team.

In the newly developed Cath Lab, procedures such as 2 D Echo, stress test and angiography will be carried out at concessional rates apart from advanced cardiac procedures such as angioplasty, pacemaker implantation, intra cardiac defibrillation that will be carried out free of cost under Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana for eligible patients.

“The 10-bed Neonatal ICU will deliver services for newborns at concessional rates,” Dr Nitish Gupta, Joint CEO, PCB said. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendra, the generic medicine kendra, will make cheaper generic medicines available to citizens within the premises of Cantonment Hospital, he added.

KJS Chauhan, Principal Director, Defence Estates, Southern Command, Brig Sandeep Vasudeva, president, Pune Cantonment Board among others were present.